Updated news about the ao dai started when I was working on my documentary. Also check www.myspace.com/vietqmedia

Gallery unveils artistic spirit of ao dai

September 23, 2008

document.all(‘IDM_Category_’.concat(1861)).style.display=”;

14:58′ 20/02/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 50 new designs of the Vietnamese traditional dress, the ao dai, by leading fashion designer Si Hoang are on display at the Y Ngoc – Si Hoang Gallery in HCM City.

Girl you’ll be a woman soon: New wedding ao dai designs by Si Hoang are displayed at the gallery.

The gallery, a joint effort between the Y Ngoc Design Company and Si Hoang Company, opened on Sunday at the Reunification palace.

With colourful materials such as silk, velvet and precious stones, veteran designer Si Hoang has created an eye-catching ao dai for weddings, honouring the traditional symbol of Vietnamese fashion and beauty of youth.

At the gallery, pottery, dolls and several oil paintings depicting teenage girls by artist Do Duy Tuan are also being showcased.

Tuan, who has more than 20 years of experience as a painter, has had several exhibitions in the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK, and his works are owned by collectors around the world.

The gallery is expected to become a destination for tourists and art lovers who are interested in painting, fashion and sculpture.

It will also become a place for art and fashion design students to research and carry out their practices, according to Hoang.

“The dresses are a combination of painting, fine arts, graphic design and the art of ao dai, with a desire to make life and people more beautiful,” said Ngoc Thi Yen, director of Y Ngoc Design Company.

She said the gallery would be a place to showcase the newest and best ao dai designs of a young generation.

“We have had to work very hard and have had no Tet (Lunar New Year festival) preparing for the opening of the gallery,” Si Hoang said.

“In June we will host a fashion design contest to design ao dai for children to celebrate Children’s Day (June 1). The event is to promote images of beauty among our young generation.”